ROCK ISLAND, ILL – The Rock Island Grand Prix has put together an exciting race program for 2015 as it heads into its third decade as one of karting’s premier festival event race weekends. As in the past, The Rock continues to be the place where all kinds of karts are welcome and showcased. This year’s races are Sept. 5-6.

 This year,  the Rock Island Grand Prix welcomes Vintage karts as a regular part of the racing program after having competed as an exhibition class the three previous years.

 Tentative Vintage classes are:

1) Open class 100cc foreign, 120cc, 130cc

2) 100cc/120cc fan-cooled American

3) Rear engine karts and "participation" drivers (who want to be there but not really race)

Groups may be adjusted based on registrations by vintage races. Every effort will be made to find a group for anyone who wants to race this classic American street course. Vintage classes will race for trophies only and have a reduced $75 entry fee.

“The Rock has always prided itself on being the one race in karting where all forms of karts race together. For the past several years we have featured Vintage karts and an exhibition race and they proved to be very popular with spectators and racers,” said Roger Ruthhart, president of the Rock Island Grand Prix. “When the Vintage racers asked for more track time and to be able to compete as part of the regular race program, it seemed to make perfect sense and we are happy to have them.

“This sport started out with these karts racing on temporary parking lot and street courses like the Rock Island Grand Prix. It’s fun to bring the two back together again,” he said.

Sponsors of this year’s Rock Island Grand Prix include AT&T, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Jumer’s Casino and Hotel, Jack’s Brake & Alignment, MG Tires, Curry’s Transportation, Valspar paint, Mediacom, Holiday Inn, ekartingnews.com, CBS4, Fox 18, QC-CW TV, The Dispatch and Rock Island Argus newspapers, Briggs & Stratton Motorsports, TravelOvation, PowerUp Promos, Communication Engineering Co., Courtesy Car City, G&E Credit Union, Margay Racing, McDonald’s restaurants, Schurr Power, Verizon IndyCar Series. Advanced Medical Transport, Modern Woodmen Bank, International Trophy Cup Series, L&W Bedding, Modern Woodmen Financial – Joe Schurr, Sunbelt Rentals, Tennant Trucking, Rogan Scales.

Additional information on classes as well as, course diagram, hotel information, rules and entry information can be found at rockislandgrandprix.com. Registration will open soon at the website.

You can also email [email protected] or call 309-292-8133 for information.

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The Rock Island Grand Prix is hosted by the Downtown Rock Island Arts and Entertainment District which features retail shops, excellent restaurants, live entertainment, dinner theater, art galleries and comedy clubs all within walking distance of the host hotel. Jumer’s Casino & Hotel is just a short drive away. Rock Island is located on the Mississippi River three hours west of Chicago in an area known as the Quad-Cities which straddles the river and the Illinois/Iowa border. It is at the intersection of Interstate highways 74, 88 and 80 and is served by Quad City International Airport in Moline, Ill. (www.ridistrict.com)